One piece belt installation/removal guide

ABSTRACT

A guide useful to install or remove a belt from a belt module is shown. This guide is made up of an elongated structure with a center aperture over which an endless belt is initially draped during installation. Once rotably attached to a belt module, the guide is moved downwardly to form a belt form over a top of the top drive rollers. A tube is attached to a bottom drive roller to help transfer the belt to the bottom drive roller and form the belt around the entire module. Once the belt is slidably positioned adjacent each drive roller, the belt is transferred from the guide and tube to the drive rollers for final installation.

CROSS REFERENCE

Illustrated and disclosed in a co-pending application (U.S. applicationSer. No. 12/051,310) owned by the present assignee is an applicationrelating to a guide useful in belt comprising systems used to remove orinstall these belts. The US patent application based upon U.S.application Ser. No. 12/051,310 is filed in the US Patent and TrademarkOffice on the same date as the present application. The disclosure ofU.S. application Ser. No. 12/051,310 is totally incorporated herein byreference.

This invention relates to a guide useful in belt comprising systems and,more specifically, to a guide used to remove or install these belts.

BACKGROUND

While the present invention of belt installation or belt removal guidecan be effectively used in a plurality of different belt configurations,it will be described for clarity as used in electrostatic markingsystems such as electrophotography or xerography.

By way of background, in marking systems such as xerography or otherelectrostatographic processes, a uniform electrostatic charge is placedupon a photoreceptor belt or drum surface. The charged surface is thenexposed to a light image of an original to selectively dissipate thecharge to form a latent electrostatic image of the original. The latentimage is developed by depositing finely divided and charged particles oftoner upon the belt or drum photoreceptor surface. The toner may be indry powder form or suspended in a liquid carrier. The charged toner,being electrostatically attached to the latent electrostatic imageareas, creates a visible replica of the original. The developed image isthen usually transferred from the photoreceptor surface to anintermediate transfer belt or to a final support material such as paper.

In some of these electrostatic marking systems, a photoreceptor belt ordrum surface and an intermediate transfer belt (ITB) is generallyarranged to move in an endless path through the various processingstations of the xerographic marking process. In this endless path,several xerographic-related stations are traversed by thephotoconductive and ITB belts which become abraded and worn. In severalof these belt configurations, in addition to photosensitive and ITBbelts, other belts are used such as transfer belts, pre-fuser belts,cleaning belts and the like. Each of these belts is exposed to frictionand moved by rollers that provide the belt movement to accomplish thebelt purpose. After awhile, especially in high speed systems, the beltneeds to be replaced. Also, since the photoreceptor and ITB surface arereusable once the toner image is transferred, the surfaces of thesebelts are constantly abraded and cleaned by a blade and/or brushes andprepared to be used once again in the marking process.

Image-carrying belts used in color printing processes can be especiallydifficult to replace and install. In some machines for example, theintermediate transfer belt is over 6-10 feet long. Belt installationrequires careful alignment with the belt module to prevent belt andother machine component damage. At even longer belt lengths, thereplacement or removal operation is extremely difficult without beltdamage occurring.

Even in monochromatic marking systems that use shorter belts for variousfunctions, extreme care must be taken not to damage the belts duringinstallation. In some instances, the belts are constructed of thinflexible polymeric materials that can easily scratch or be damagedduring belt replacement or even during original installation.

SUMMARY

While the guide of this invention can be used in both belt installationand belt removal, for clarity it will be described in an installationmode of an ITB. When removing the ITB belt, the reverse procedure isused. Also, the disclosure will define a belt guide in reference tointermediate transfer belts. However, as earlier stated, the presentguide is useful in other belt systems, i.e. photoconductive belts,transfer belts, cleaning belts, etc. Embodiments of a belt removal andinstallation guide of this invention in marking systems provides beltalignment during the removal and installation process with a minimum ofbelt damage. The guide of this invention comprises a one piece elongatedstructure having a length substantially the same as the top portion ofthe belt module. It will have an aperture in about the center so that itcould be attached to a plate at the top of the belt module and rotatedto a horizontal position during belt installation. The guide isremovable from the belt module after belt installation and stored in oroutside of the marking machine. These embodiments will be furtherdescribed in reference to the drawings of this disclosure. As colors areadded to the marking systems, belts get longer and the need for guideswill be more important. Guides that are stored in housings of the modulesave time compared to guides that are store elsewhere. Guides storedoutside the machine save space inside the machine. Thus, there areadvantages to both internally stored and externally stored guides. Thescope of this invention includes both these embodiments.

The embodiments herein provide a belt guide that is mounted during useon the belt modules of products that have long transfer belts,especially those in excess of 10 feet in overall length. Theinstallation of long belts is difficult due to their size and scope;therefore, the installation requires care because of the likelihood ofdamage. It is especially difficult in applications that have thetransfer belt module mounted horizontally. The invention focuses on arotatable guide but includes otherwise movable or hinged guides, ifconvenient. The guide would protrude toward the front of the machinefrom the housing at two or more roller positions providing a pre-stagingarea for the belt. The belt would then be draped in a position close tothe actual belt housing but without the clearance issues. The belt wouldthen be manually tensioned as it is slid from the guide of thisinvention over the rollers of the belt module. After belt installation,the guide would be removed and stored in the machine or elsewhere forfuture use. The guide of this invention can also be used for removal ofthe belt but belt damage is not as great an issue then. In removal ofthe belt, the reverse procedure described herein is used.

An embodiment of the guide of this invention comprises an elongatedstructure as shown in the drawings and said guide having a length aboutthe same as a top portion of the belt module. The guide is wide enoughto support the width of the varied size endless belt to be installed.For a small narrow belt, a narrower width guide will be used. The guidehas at least one aperture at its center rotatable portion. Thisaperture(s) is adapted to be rotably connected to a projection in theupper portion of the belt module so that the guide (as shown in thedrawings) is vertically installed in the module in a stand-up mode. Theguide is enabled to be rotably moved to a horizontal position when thebelt to be installed is draped over the guide. The guide is then moveddownwardly (to a 180° horizontal position) with its upper portionsupporting the belt. The lower portion of the belt is draped below thisguide and a tube X is used to align the belt to a lower roller. Thistube X and the belt usually are included in the packaging of the beltsent by the manufacturer. Thus, the loose belt is enabled to be locatedadjacent and in substantial horizontal alignment with the drive rollerswhen installing the belt. The belt is then slid inboard onto the rollersfrom the guide and tube and engages a belt-tightening mechanism (such asa tension roll) to securely attach the belt around the rollers.

The guide is configured so as to accommodate transfer of an endless beltto the drive rollers.

Thus, this invention proposes a design for an Intermediate Transfer Belt((TB) installation/removal tool. This guide is rotably mounted on afront guide pin on the belt module. It has a guide pin to hold one ofthe packaging tubes while the remainder of the belt is unrolledvertically. Once unrolled, the packing tubes are removed and the belt isslid over the elongated guide of this invention. The guide is thenrotated to a horizontal position, widening the belt to match the topwidth of the module. The final step before sliding it onto the module isto insert one of the packing tubes into a feature on the bottom of themodule which provides a third bottom sliding surface for the ITB. Afterthe belt is slid onto the module, the tool or guide and the packing tubeare removed. Removal of a used belt is this process reversed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical marking machine with an endlessintermediate transfer belt (ITB).

FIG. 2A is a plan view of an embodiment of the elongated guide of thisinvention. FIG. 2B is a plate in a belt module.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the initial step used to install an endlessbelt in a belt module.

FIG. 4 is a second step showing the guide movement pivoted downwardlywith the belt draped over each wing.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing the movement of the belt from the guide tothe drive rollers.

DETAILED DISCUSSION OF DRAWINGS AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, a typical color imaging system 1 is illustrated having anarray of raster output scanners (ROS) 2 and their associatedphotoreceptor drums 5 aligned above an endless intermediate transferbelt 3. Each ROS emits a different image beam 4 on a photoconductivedrum 5 to charge the drum's surface where the image for that color willbe located. As the drum 5 rotates, the charged regions pick up toner ofthe color for that particular imaging station and transfer this colorimage to the surface of the belt 3 so that each colored image isdeposited in relation to the previous deposited image. At the end of theprocess, all six deposited images (that are color developed at eachstation) are precisely aligned to form the final color image which iseventually transferred to media. The arrows 7 indicate the rotationdirection of drum 5 and belt 3. It is in this type system that the guide8 of this invention can be used (together with a belt containingmonochromatic system or any belt containing system).

A typical xerographic imaging system that can employ the guide of thisinvention as above described, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,418,286B1. This patent disclosure is incorporated by reference into the presentdisclosure.

In FIGS. 2A and 2B, a perspective side view of a guide 8 and plate 11embodiment is shown. The guide 8 comprises an “elongated” guide that ismade from a plastic or relatively soft material so as not to damage abelt 3. Materials such as polypropylene, polyurethanes, blow moldedplastics, polycarbonates or any other suitable material may be used. Theguide has at its center portion an aperture 9 that is adapted to berotably connected to projections 10 in a plate 11 of a belt module 15.Once connected, the guide 8 is rotably movable on projection 10 somewhatlike a propeller. Other connecting means other thanapertures-projections may be used such as hinges and the like that willpermit the guide to be rotated to a horizontal position. When theendless belt 3 is packaged, it comes with tubes, one of which will fitover the tube connection 19 on guide 8 during belt installation ontoguide 8. The other two tubes can be discarded. This tube X can be storedin rounded tubular housing 12 in a guide embodiment as shown in FIG. 2A.Aperture 9 is shown on the same side as this housing 12 for clarity; itcan better be positioned on the opposite side of the guide 8 from thishousing 12. The end portions 13 of guide 8 are chamfered or rounded toprevent any damage to the belts 3 during installation or belt removal.

In FIGS. 3-4, a sequential belt 3 installation process is illustrated.In FIG. 3, a simple belt module 15 configuration is shown for clarity.The guide 8 is shown with aperture 9 which will be mated or attached toprojection 10 in containing plate 11. The guide 8 is in a verticalposition with belt 3 (in this case an intermediate transfer belt ITB)draped over the guide 8 as it is moved downwardly in a horizontalposition as shown in FIG. 4. The arrow 16 shows the direction ofmovement of the guide 8 to carry the belt 3 with it. The guide 8 againis rotated on projection 10 of plate 11. Once the guide 8 is fullylowered as shown in FIG. 4, the belt 3 is substantially flat againstupper rollers 14A and 14C yet not attached to lower roller 14B. The tubeX delivered with the belt packaging and was stored in rounded tubularhousing 12 earlier in the procedure is used to place on tube supportconnection 18 to assist in the eventual installation of the belt 3 overthe roller 14B as shown in FIG. 4. Once the belt is draped over rollers14A, 14B and 14C, roller 14A which is a tension roller is sprung back toits operative position to thereby tighten the belt 3 around rollers 14C,14A and 14B.

In FIG. 5, a top view of a final step is shown where the belt 3 istransferred from the guide 8 (and tube X) to rollers 14C, 14A and 14B(not shown) is illustrated. The belt is merely pushed from guide 8 andtube X onto rollers 14C, 14A and 14B as shown by arrow 17. Tighteningroller 14A is sprung to its operative position to tighten belt 3 arounddrive rollers 14C, 14A and 14B. The arrows 17 show the transfer movementof belt 3.

Guide 8 is then removed and in one embodiment stored in the housing (notshown). As noted, in other embodiments, the guide 8 can be stored otherthan in the housing. Also, an extension connection tube support 18 totubular or tube X is shown for supporting belt 3 around lower roller14B.

It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and otherfeatures and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirablycombined into many other different systems or applications. Variouspresently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications,variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by thoseskilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by thefollowing claims.

1. A method of installing an endless belt in a belt module of anelectrostatic marking machine which comprises: providing a beltinstallation guide having an elongated structure and a lengthsubstantially the same as a top portion of said module, said guidehaving a connection aperture in its center portion; said apertureenabled to be connected to a projection in said module thereby rotablyrotatably connecting said guide to said belt module at a top locationadjacent to a belt path of said module, loosely draping an endless beltover a top portion of the guide rotably rotatably moving said guidedownwardly to carry said supported belt to a substantially horizontalposition at a top of said module; moving said belt around top drive beltrollers in said modules; moving a tubular extension adjacent a bottombelt drive roller in said module; sliding said belt inboard from saidguide and said tubular extension onto said top and bottom rollers,respectively; engaging a belt-lightning mechanism to securely attachsaid belt around said rollers, and in a last step, remove said guide andsaid tubular extension from said modules.
 2. The method of claim 1whereby said guide and tubular extensions after removal from the modulesare stored for further use.
 3. The method of claim 1 whereby said guideis provided with at least one aperture for rotatably connection toprojections in a plate in a top portion of said module.
 4. The method ofclaim 1 where one of said top rollers is a tension roller that isenabled to secure said belt tightly around said rollers when moved to anoriginal belt driving position.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein saidmachine is an electrostatic marking apparatus selected from the groupconsisting of monochromatic systems, color marking systems and mixturesthereof.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said belt is an intermediatetransfer belt.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein said belt is manuallypushed over said rollers from said guide and said tubular extensions.